Syphilis symptoms may vary by stages that can last for weeks, months or even years, and not everyone experiences all possible symptoms. In the beginning, the signs and symptoms may be mild and not as noticeable. Here are the symptoms for the first two stages, which are the most common and contagious²:

Primary stage symptoms:

• One or more sores on your body called “chancres.” These are typically firm, round and painless sores on the genitals, anus, rectum or mouth.
• The sore usually lasts 3 to 6 weeks and heals regardless of whether you receive treatment. Even if the sore goes away, treatment is still indicated.

Secondary stage symptoms:

• This stage starts with a non-itchy skin rash that is rough, red or brown in color and may appear across the body, including the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
• Large, raised gray or white spots in warm, moist areas (e.g., armpits, mouth or groin).
• Flu-like symptoms: fever, sore throat, swollen glands, fatigue and/or muscle aches.
• These symptoms can come and go for months or years. Without the right treatment, your infection will progress to the latent stage.
• Very often the rash associated with syphilis mimics many other infections and diseases, and the diagnosis can be missed.

The latent stage that follows has no symptoms, but may be causing internal organ damage.  Without the right treatment, you will continue to have syphilis.

Finally, there is the tertiary stage, where untreated syphilis can severely damage multiple organ systems and become life-threatening. Read more about the serious health problems that can occur during the tertiary stage. 

The Labcorp OnDemand Syphilis Test is intended for anyone age 18 and older who is concerned that they may have been exposed to syphilis.

Although anyone can contract this STI, some individuals may be at higher risk,^1,3 including:

• People under the age of 29
• A man who has sex with men
• An HIV-positive individual
• A member of certain higher-risk racial or ethnic groups, including:
  • American Indian/Alaska Native individuals
  • Black/African American individuals
  • Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander individuals

Because men who have sex with men are disproportionately impacted by syphilis,¹ the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that all sexually active men who have sex with men should be tested at least once a year for syphilis—or more frequently (e.g., every three to six months) for those who have multiple or anonymous partners.⁴

If syphilis is detected, you will be contacted by a healthcare provider to discuss your results one-on-one in a stigma-free space. They can answer questions and provide personalized guidance to help with next steps, so you aren’t left wondering what to do.  

Note: Determining whether you have a current, active syphilis infection versus a past infection may requires a more detailed examination and further evaluation of your exposure history by a healthcare provider. If your test results indicate further assessment or treatment is recommended, our independent healthcare providers can provide guidance on next steps.

No, a one-on-one consult to discuss your test results with a healthcare provider is included at no additional cost. During the call, you can discuss your result, get educational information and talk about next steps. Next steps may include recommendations such as further testing or treatment, which are not included in the price of this test.

STD stands for “sexually transmitted disease,” and STI stands for “sexually transmitted infection.” Both STDs and STIs refer to the same condition: infections that are passed from person to person through sexual contact.

Over the years, these infections have gone by several different names; “STI” is now the most up-to-date term. Educators and healthcare professionals switched from “STD” to “STI” because “infection” is thought to be less stigmatizing and more accurate than “disease” to describe these conditions.⁵

Your testing will be performed in a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory. Labcorp provides leading-edge medical laboratory tests and services through a national network of primary clinical laboratories and specialty testing laboratories. Our labs perform regular quality assurance testing to ensure our results are accurate.

Your results will be provided to you through our secure online portal to view or print. Results are also provided to PWNHealth, which provides professional healthcare provider services for OnDemand tests. If you are accessing your results through your Labcorp Patient account, all users linked to the account will have access to all OnDemand test results. Results may also be provided to a local, state, or federal health authority, but only when legally required. For example, many states require the testing laboratory and healthcare provider to report test results for certain communicable diseases, such as sexually transmitted diseases or COVID-19, to local or state health departments.  

If you have questions or comments regarding the Labcorp Notice of Privacy Practices, or have a complaint about our use or disclosure of your PHI or our privacy practices, please contact: privacyofficer@labcorp.com, call us at (877) 234-4722 (877-23-HIPAA) and ask for the Labcorp HIPAA Privacy Officer, or send a written request to: HIPAA Privacy Officer, Labcorp, 531 South Spring Street, Burlington, NC 27215. You also may file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Visit the Labcorp OnDemand website to browse and purchase laboratory tests and create your Labcorp OnDemand account. All Labcorp OnDemand testing requires a healthcare provider order; for your convenience, Labcorp OnDemand has contracted with PWNHealth LLC and its affiliated professional entities (collectively, PWNHealth) to provide healthcare provider services. Visit a Labcorp location for sample collection; or, if using an at-home kit, collect your sample yourself. We’ll let you know when your results are ready to be accessed through your Labcorp OnDemand account or through your Labcorp Patient account.